Medical Masks Versus N95 Respirators for Preventing COVID-19 Among Health Care Workers
Authors: Lisa M. Brosseau
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2023)

LettersJuly 2023Medical Masks Versus N95 Respirators for Preventing COVID-19 Among Health Care WorkersFREELisa M. Brosseau, ScDLisa M. Brosseau, ScDUniversity of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MinnesotaSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L23-0071 SectionsAboutVisual AbstractPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR: I request that Annals retracts Loeb and colleagues' study (1). It was unethical to perform this type of study during the COVID-19 pandemic when the data clearly support transmission of SARS-CoV-2 by aerosol inhalation and not droplets. Surgical masks are not designed to protect the wearer from inhalation of small infectious particles and will not prevent person-to-person transmission from patients or coworkers. Respirators must be worn during all exposures—with all patients and coworkers—to ensure user protection. It is clear from the data provided in the Supplement that this was not the case.Without a control (that is, no mask), it is impossible to conclude that surgical masks or respirators were effective. They were probably equally ineffective for different reasons. Many studies in laboratories, clinical settings, and other environments clearly show the efficacy of fit-tested respirators for protecting workers from hazardous aerosol exposures; however, this is true only if they are worn for every exposure. Loeb and colleagues' article does a substantial disservice to health care workers, who have given their jobs and lives caring for patients throughout this pandemic.Reference1. Loeb M, Bartholomew A, Hashmi M, et al. Medical masks versus N95 respirators for preventing COVID-19 among health care workers. A randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2022;175:1629-1638. [PMID: 36442064] doi:10.7326/M22-1966 LinkGoogle Scholar Comments0 CommentsSign In to Submit A Comment Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Lisa M. Brosseau, ScDAffiliations: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MinnesotaDisclosures: Authors have reported no disclosures of interest. Forms can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=L23-0071. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoMedical Masks Versus N95 Respirators for Preventing COVID-19 Among Health Care Workers Mark Loeb , Amy Bartholomew , Madiha Hashmi , Wadea Tarhuni , Mohamed Hassany , Ilan Youngster , Ranjani Somayaji , Oscar Larios , Joseph Kim , Bayan Missaghi , Joseph V. Vayalumkal , Dominik Mertz , Zain Chagla , Maureen Cividino , Karim Ali , Sarah Mansour , Lana A. Castellucci , Charles Frenette , Leighanne Parkes , Mark Downing , Matthew Muller , Verne Glavin , Jennifer Newton , Ravi Hookoom , Jerome A. Leis , James Kinross , Stephanie Smith , Sayem Borhan , Pardeep Singh , Eleanor Pullenayegum , and John Conly Medical Masks Versus N95 Respirators for Preventing COVID-19 Among Health Care Workers Kevin Hedges , Marianne Levitsky , Genevieve Marchand , Lidia Morawska , Luc Bhérer , Marie-Claude Letellier Medical Masks Versus N95 Respirators for Preventing COVID-19 Among Health Care Workers Trisha Greenhalgh , Danielle J. Cane , Matthew Oliver Medical Masks Versus N95 Respirators for Preventing COVID-19 Among Health Care Workers David N. Fisman , Raina Macintyre Medical Masks Versus N95 Respirators for Preventing COVID-19 Among Health Care Workers Jim Delaine Medical Masks Versus N95 Respirators for Preventing COVID-19 Among Health Care Workers Christine Laine , Christina C. Wee , Stephanie Chang , Deborah Cotton , Vineet Chopra , Sankey V. Williams , Yu-Xiao Yang , Eliseo Guallar , Eric A. Ross Medical Masks Versus N95 Respirators for Preventing COVID-19 Among Health Care Workers Mark Loeb , Dominik Mertz , Zain Chagla , John Conly Metrics Current IssueJuly 2023Volume 176, Issue 7KeywordsCOVID-19Health care providersInfectious diseasesPreventive medicine ePublished: 18 July 2023 Issue Published: July 2023 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2023 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...